Barbell Lifting for Wavelet Coding

ABSTRACT

A method for encoding motion-compensated video data includes generating, for a current frame, a high-pass wavelet coefficient based on a function of pixels in a temporally adjacent frame. The operations are repeated for multiple pixels in an array of pixels in the current frame to form an array of high-pass wavelet coefficients. A low-pass wavelet coefficient is generated based on a function of the high-pass wavelet coefficients. A system for coding video data includes a temporal wavelet decomposition module decomposing a pixel into a high-pass coefficient by performing a discrete wavelet transform on the pixel, a function of pixels in a previous frame, and/or a function of pixels in a subsequent frame. The system includes a motion estimation module generating motion vectors associated with the pixels in the previous frame and in the subsequent frame.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims priority from U.S. PatentApplication Ser. No. 10/911,836, titled “Barbell Lifting For WaveletCoding”, filed on Aug. 4, 2004, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/548,768, filed Feb. 27, 2004 and ishereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The described subject matter relates to video encoding, and moreparticularly to Barbell lifting for wavelet coding.

BACKGROUND

In the field of video coding, video images or frames can be coded intowavelet coefficients. Such wavelet encoding can offer good codingefficiency. Traditional approaches to wavelet coding involve applying a1-dimensional (1-D) wavelet transformation to a video image to decomposethe image data into the coefficients that represent the video image. Thedecomposing process is often referred to as lifting. The waveletcoefficients can be used by a video receiver to easily reconstruct thevideo image. Unfortunately, traditional approaches to wavelet codinghave drawbacks, particularly with respect to motion video coding.

Some video coding standards, such as MPEG-4, employ motion compensation.Generally, motion compensation involves creating motion vectors thatindicate how areas (called macroblocks) of frames in motion video movefrom one frame to another frame. By using motion vectors, redundancybetween frames can be exploited to increase video compression. Usingmotion vector information, the video receiver can determine where pixelsmove from one frame to the next.

One problem that can arise when applying wavelet coding to motioncompensated video is called over-complete wavelet compensation.Over-complete wavelet compensation occurs when motion vectors collidedue to contractive motion. When motion vectors collide, multiple pixelsin one frame may be mapped to one pixel in a subsequent frame. FIG. 1 isa graphical illustration 100 depicting over-complete waveletcompensation. 1-dimensional pixel arrays 102 are shown in a sequence oftemporally-related frames 104. As shown, three motion vectors 106 a, 106b, and 106 c converge on a single pixel 108 in frame F₂. One possiblesolution to colliding motion vectors is to remove all but one of thecolliding vectors. In FIG. 1, removal of motion vectors 106 a and 106 cis illustrated with an ‘X’ 110 over motion vector 106 a and an ‘X’ 112over motion vector 106 c. However, this solution results in significantreduction of coding efficiency due to the wavelet boundary effect.

Another problem that can occur when wavelet coding motion video relatesto fractional pixel (or sub-pixel) precision. Traditionally, when amotion vector indicates that a pixel of one frame has moved between twopixel positions of a subsequent frame, the pixel position is set to oneor the other of the two pixel positions in the subsequent frame. Inother words, the fractional pixel position motion vector is forced to aninteger pixel position. Inaccuracy related to fractional pixels isillustrated in FIG. 1. A motion vector 114 (shown with a dotted line)originally points between two pixel position 116 and pixel position 118.The motion vector 114 is adjusted to a new motion vector 120 that pointsto pixel position 116. If, in forcing a sub-pixel to an integer pixelposition, over-complete wavelet compensation occurs, the sub-pixel maybe forced to a different, less accurate integer pixel position. As aresult, coding accuracy and efficiency may be reduced.

Accordingly, although wavelet coding of images can be beneficial toimprove coding efficiency, traditional approaches to wavelet coding hascertain drawbacks when applied to motion video.

SUMMARY

Implementations relate to Barbell lifting for wavelet-based video codingto address the aforementioned problems, as well as other problems.Barbell lifting involves applying a wavelet transform in a predictivestage to generate high-pass coefficients and in an update stage togenerate low-pass coefficients. The wavelet transform includes functionsof sets of pixels in adjacent frames to generate wavelet coefficients.The functions can be of any form, so as to improve motion alignment,multiple-to-one pixel mapping, or fractional pixel mapping. Block-sizeused in the wavelet transform can be adapted to regions in a frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a graphical illustration of multiple-to-one pixel mapping andfractional pixel mapping that can occur in wavelet codedmotion-compensated video;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary video coder employing temporal waveletdecomposition, wherein Barbell lifting is applied with motioncompensation;

FIG. 3 is a graphical illustration of motion aligned waveletcoefficients in a sequence of video frames;

FIG. 4 illustrates an wavelet coding scheme with Barbell lifting whereina wavelet coefficient is generated for a current frame based on multiplepixels from adjacent frames;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of high-pass wavelet coefficientgeneration using Barbell lifting in a prediction stage;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of low-pass wavelet coefficient generationusing Barbell lifting in an update stage;

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary decoding process wherein frames ofhigh-pass and low-pass wavelet coefficients are decoded to yield evenframes of decoded pixels;

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary decoding process wherein the even framesof decoded pixels and the frames of high-pass wavelet coefficients aredecoded to yield odd frames of decoded pixels;

FIG. 9 illustrates four scenarios involving motion alignment and motionprediction when motion vectors are used in conjunction with barbellfunctions;

FIG. 10 illustrates various exemplary blocks of pixels, each having adifferent block size, to which the Barbell lifting can be applied;

FIG. 11 illustrates a pixel mismatch problem that can arise with motionalignment;

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary wavelet lifting scheme with barbellfunctions, which can solve the mismatch problem of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary algorithm for codingvideo data using barbell lifting;

FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary algorithm for decodingframes of data that has been coded using barbell lifting;

FIG. 15 illustrates a general purpose computer that can be used toimplement barbell lifting to code and decode video.

DESCRIPTION Exemplary Video Coding System

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary video coder 200 employing Barbellfunctions for coding video data using motion alignment 3-dimensionalwavelet coding. The video coder 200 exploits temporal and spatialcorrelation among input video frames 202 using wavelet decomposition.The video coder 200 also employs motion estimation for estimating motionof pixels across the frames 202.

Initially, the video frames 202 are input into a temporal waveletdecomposition module 204 and a motion estimation module 206. Thetemporal wavelet decomposition module 204 decomposes pixels in the videoframes 202 into wavelet coefficients that represent the video frames202. The temporal wavelet decomposition module 204 employs a wavelettransform, which performs a wavelet lifting process. The waveletcoefficients include low-pass and high-pass coefficients, which aredescribed in further detail below. The output of the temporal waveletdecomposition module 204 includes frames of wavelet coefficients. Theframes output from the temporal wavelet decomposition module 204alternate between a frame of low-pass coefficients and a frame ofhigh-pass coefficients.

The motion estimation module 206 uses pixel information from the inputframes 202 to perform motion alignment. In MPEG-4, for example, theframes 202 are each composed of macroblocks. A macroblock is a region inthe frames 202 used for motion alignment. For example, in somestandards, each macroblock consists of a 16×16 array of pixels. Themotion estimation module 206 generates motion vector(s) that representthe horizontal and vertical displacement from the macroblock beingencoded to the matching macroblock-sized area in a reference frame.

The motion vector(s) from the motion estimation module 206 can be usedby the temporal decomposition module 204 to generate the waveletcoefficients. Because the motion alignment is performed during thetemporal wavelet decomposition, the temporal wavelet decompositionmodule 204 can effectively form high energy compactions using the motionalignment information.

The frames output by the temporal wavelet decomposition module 204 areinput into a 2-dimensional (2-D) spatial wavelet decomposition module208. The spatial wavelet decomposition module 208 takes advantage ofspatial correlation of pixels within a frame. The spatial waveletdecomposition module 208 decomposes each input frame into waveletcoefficients in both the vertical and the horizontal dimensions. Thetemporal wavelet decomposition module 204 and the 2-D spatial waveletdecomposition module 208 use discrete wavelet transforms (DWTs) togenerate wavelet coefficients.

An entropy coder 210 provides for further compression of the video dataprior to transmission. The entropy coder 210 assigns codes to symbols inthe frames output by the spatial decomposition module 208 so as thematch code lengths with the probabilities of the symbols. Typically, theentropy coder 210 assigns the most common symbols to the shortest codesusing an algorithm. Exemplary entropy coding algorithms includeFibonacci coding, Golomb coding, Rice coding, Huffman coding, or Rangecoding.

A motion vector (MV) and mode coding module 212 code MV information andmode information into the signal that is transmitted. Mode informationdescribes the predicted direction and/or macroblock partition of acurrent macroblock. The predicted direction is based on whether thecurrent macroblock is predicted from a previous reference, a futurereference or both. Macroblock partition indicates whether the currentmacroblock is further partitioned into multiple sub-blocks, wherein eachsub-block has a motion vector. A video decoder (not shown) that receivesthe transmitted signal uses the entropy coded, wavelet decomposedframes, and the MV and mode information to reconstruct the video frames.Generally, reconstruction of the video frames includes the reverse ofthe processes employed by the video coder 200.

The video coder 200 may be implemented in software, firmware, and/orhardware. The video coder 200 may be constructed as part of a generalpurpose computer (e.g., the computing device shown in FIG. 15) orspecial purpose computer (e.g., an embedded system), where the videocode can be incorporated into an operating system or other applicationprograms. Various exemplary implementations of processes employed by thevideo coder 220 are illustrated and described in further detail belowwith regard to the following figures.

FIG. 3 graphically illustrates motion alignment with temporal waveletdecomposition. In an actual implementation, a decomposed frame of videois a 2-Dimensional (2-D) wavelet coefficient array. The systems andoperations described herein can be applied to 2-D arrays of any size.However, for ease of illustration, each frame in a sequence of videoframes is shown in FIG. 3 as a one-dimensional (1-D) wavelet coefficientarray. The frames alternate between a low-pass frame and a high-passframe. For example, frame F₀ 300 includes an array 302 of low-passcoefficients, frame F₁ 304 includes an array 306 of high-passcoefficients, and so on. l₀, l₁, . . . , l₃ in FIG. 3 denotes thelow-pass coefficients after wavelet decomposition and h₀, h₁, . . . , h₃denotes the high-pass coefficients.

The coefficients are not necessarily determined by coefficients at thesame location of adjacent frames. For example, high-pass coefficient h₀308 in F₁ 304 is not calculated from the collocated coefficients 310 and312 in F₀ 300 and F₂ 314, respectively. Instead, after motion alignment,coefficient h₀ 308 is decomposed as a high-pass coefficient based oncoefficients 316 and 318 of F₀ 300 and F₂ 314 specified by backwardmotion vector (MV) 320 and forward MV 322, respectively. Othercoefficients are processed in a similar fashion.

FIG. 4 graphically illustrates a wavelet coding scheme with Barbelllifting for coding video data. The coding scheme illustrated in FIG. 4can be carried out by the temporal wavelet decomposition module 204(FIG. 2). For an n-dimensional (i.e., multi-dimensional) signal, such asvideo and images, the scheme illustrated in FIG. 4 provides forefficient 1-D wavelet decomposition by taking one or more pixels fromadjacent frames. Therefore, the wavelet lifting scheme is referred toherein as ‘barbell lifting’.

FIG. 4 illustrates three one-dimensional pixel arrays to which Barbelllifting can be applied: a first pixel array 400, a second pixel array402, and a third pixel array 404. The first pixel array 400 and thethird pixel array 404 are in frames of video that are temporallyadjacent to a frame that includes the second pixel array 402. A waveletcoefficient 406, labeled ‘t’, is generated that corresponds to a pixel408, labeled S₁, in the second pixel array 402.

In one implementation of Barbell lifting pixel s₁, and a barbellfunction of pixels from the first pixel array 400 and the second pixelarray 404, are used to generate the coefficient t 406. To illustrate, afirst group of pixels 410, labeled S₀, is shown with hatch lines in thefirst pixel array 400. A second group of pixels 412, labeled S₂, isshown with hatch lines in the second pixel array 404. In a special case,either or both of the groups 410 and 412 do not include any pixels. Inother cases, groups 410 and 412 include one or more pixels.

The pixels in the first group 410 are combined to create another pixel,referred to herein as a combopixel 414, labeled ŝ₀. Similarly, thepixels in the second group 412 are combined to create another combopixel416, labeled ŝ₂. Combopixel ŝ₀ 414 is derived according to a function ofthe pixels in the first group 410. As illustrated, the function used toderive combopixel ŝ₀ 414 is f₀ (S₀). The function used to derivecombopixel ŝ₂ 416 is f₂ (S₂).

Functions f₀(S₀) and f₂(S₂) are called barbell functions. Functionsf₀(S₀) and f₂(S₂) can be any linear or non-linear functions that operateon any pixels in the associated frames. A barbell function, such asf₀(S₀), can also vary from pixel to pixel within a frame.

The wavelet coefficient 406 is computed in the barbell lifting processin accordance with a discrete wavelet transform. Accordingly, thebarbell lifting process is formulated with the general function shown inequation (1):

t=a×ŝ ₀ +s ₁ +b×ŝ ₂   (1)

The values ‘a’ and ‘b’ are the filtering parameters of wavelettransform. The values ‘a’ and ‘b’ may or may not be equal. Typically,the barbell lifting process is applied in two stages. The first stage,called a prediction stage, generates high-pass coefficients and thesecond stage, called and update stage, generates low-pass coefficients.

To illustrate barbell lifting further, a specific example is describedwith reference to FIGS. 5-8. The example illustrates both the wavelettransform and inverse wavelet transform. In FIGS. 5-8, a pixel isdenoted by letter ‘x’, a 1-D array of pixels is denoted by letter ‘X’, alow-pass coefficient is denoted by letter ‘1’, a 1-D array of low-passcoefficients is denoted by letter ‘L’, a high-pass coefficient isdenoted by ‘h’, and a 1-D array of high-pass coefficients is denoted byletter ‘H’. Although the example illustrates only 1-D pixel andcoefficient arrays, it is to be understood that the barbell liftingprocess is typically applied across an entire 2-D frame to generate aframe of coefficients.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the prediction stage takes original inputvideo frames to generate high-pass frames. Each of the 1-D pixel arrays,X₀, X₁, . . . , X₄, is an array from a corresponding frame in a sequenceof frames. In the prediction stage, high-pass frames are generated foreach pixel in every other frame. Thus, a high-pass coefficient h₀ 500 isgenerated that corresponds to pixel x₁ 502 in array X₁, and anotherhigh-pass coefficient h₁ 504 is generated that corresponds to pixel X₃506 in array X₃.

The high-pass coefficient h₀ 500 is a wavelet transform of a combopixel{circumflex over (x)}₀ 508 from the previous frame and combopixel{circumflex over (x)}₂ 510 from the subsequent frame. As shown,combopixel {circumflex over (x)}₀ 508 is computed from a barbellfunction, f₀(X₀), which is a function of a group of pixels in the 1-Darray X₀. Also as shown, combopixel {circumflex over (x)}₂ 510 iscomputed from a barbell function, f₂(X₂), which is a function of a groupof pixels in the 1-D array X₂.

A similar process is used to compute high-pass coefficient h₁ 504.High-pass coefficient h₁ 504 is a function of combopixel {circumflexover (x)}₂′ 512 from the previous adjacent frame and combopixel{circumflex over (x)}₄ 514 from the subsequent adjacent frame. As shown,combopixel {circumflex over (x)}₂′ 512 is computed from a barbellfunction, f₂′(X₂), which is a function of a group of pixels in the 1-Darray X₂. Also as shown, combopixel {circumflex over (x)}₄ 514 iscomputed from a barbell function, f₄(X₄), which is a function of a groupof pixels in the 1-D array X₃. It is important to note that the group ofpixels used in barbell function f₂(X₂) can be different from the groupof pixels used in the barbell function f₂′(X₂).

A 1-D high-pass coefficient array, H₀, is generated by creating ahigh-pass coefficient for each pixel in pixel array X₁. High-passcoefficient array H₀ can be represented by [h₀₀, h₀₁, . . . , h_(0n)].Another 1-D high-pass coefficient array, H₁, is generated by creating ahigh-pass coefficient for each pixel in pixel array X₃. High-passcoefficient array H₁ can be represented by [h₁₀, h₁₁, . . . , h_(1n)].The high-pass coefficients are used in the update stage to generatelow-pass coefficient arrays. An exemplary update stage is described withrespect to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 illustrates 1-D pixel frames X₀, X₃, and X₄, as in FIG. 5.However, 1-D high-pass array H₀ and 1-D high-pass array H₁ are shown inplace of 1-D pixel array X₁ and 1-D pixel array X₃, respectively. 1-Dlow-pass coefficient arrays L₀, L₁, and L₂ are generated for 1-D pixelframes X₀, X₂, and X₄, respectively.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a low-pass coefficient, l₀, corresponding topixel x₀ is based on the pixel x₀ and a group of high-pass coefficientsfrom the 1-D high-pass coefficient array H₀. The group of high-passcoefficients are combined to form a value ĥ₀, referred to herein as acombo-coefficient 600. The combo-coefficient is derived from functiong₀(H₀), which operates on the group of high-pass coefficients from 1-Dcoefficient array H₀. Low-pass coefficient, l₀, can be derived from thefollowing wavelet transform:

l ₀ =x ₀+2b×ĥ ₀   (2)

Low-pass coefficient array L₁ is derived in a similar fashion, usinggroups of high-pass coefficients from high-pass coefficient array H₀ andhigh-pass coefficient array H₁, as well as the pixels in pixel array X₂.For example, a combo-coefficient ĥ₀′ 602 is computed from barbellfunction g₀′(H₀), and combo-coefficient ĥ₁ 604 is computed from barbellfunction g₁(H₁). The low-pass coefficient l₁ can be specified by wavelettransform (3):

l ₁ =b×ĥ ₀ ′+x ₂ +b×ĥ ₁   (3)

A similar process is used to generate low-pass coefficients in low-passcoefficient array L₂ using a high-pass combo-coefficient ĥ₁′ 606 andpixel x₄. As shown, combo-coefficient ĥ₁′ 606 is the result of functiong₁′(H₁).

After the prediction stage creates frames of high-pass coefficients andthe update stage creates frames of low-pass coefficients, the high-passand low-pass coefficient frames are transmitted to a video receiver. Thevideo receiver uses a decoder to decode the wavelet coefficient data.The process of decoding is typically an inverse process. FIGS. 7-8illustrate the inverse of the barbell lifting process.

For the inverse transform, as long as the original barbell functionsused at the update stage are known, the even frames can be recoveredfirst with available high-pass and low-pass frames as shown in FIG. 7.If the barbell functions at the prediction stage are known, the oddframes can be reconstructed with the available even frames and high-passframes as shown in FIG. 8.

Referring specifically to FIG. 7, a sequence 700 of coded 1-Dcoefficient arrays L₀, H₀, L₁, H₁, and L₂ are used to generate decodedvideo arrays. In a first step of the decoding process, 1-D pixel arraysX₀ (702), X₂ (704), and X₄ (706) corresponding to even numbered videoframes are generated. Thus, as shown 1-D pixel arrays X₀ (702), X₂(704), and X₄ correspond to low-pass coefficient arrays L₀, L₁, and L₂,respectively. The process of generating 1-D pixel arrays X₀ (702), X₂(704), and X₄ (706) is substantially inverse of the process illustratedin FIG. 6. Generally, a pixel in one of the pixel arrays X₀ (702), X₂(704), and X₄ (706) is generated from an inverse wavelet transform of acombination of high-pass coefficient in an adjacent array, and alow-pass coefficient in the corresponding low-pass coefficient array.

For example, as shown, pixels in the pixel array X0 (702) is acombination of a low-pass coefficient, l₀, from coefficient array L₀ andhigh-pass coefficients from coefficient array H₀. Generating a pixel,x₀, in 1-D array X₀ can be generalized by equation (4) below:

x ₀ =l ₀+(−2b)×ĥ ₀   (4)

In equation (4), the value ĥ₀ is equal to function g₀(H₀), which is abarbell function of one or more coefficients in coefficient array H₀.Pixels in pixel arrays X₂ (704) and X₄ (706) are generated in a similarmanner to complete the pixel arrays. In this manner, the even videoframes are generated by the decoder.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a process 800 for generating the oddnumbered video frames by decoding the remaining wavelet coded frames.The previously generated even numbered 1-D pixel arrays X₀, X₂, and X₄are shown adjacent the high-pass coefficient arrays H₀ and H₁. Pixelarrays X₁ (802) and X₃ (804) correspond to odd numbered video frames andthe high-pass coefficient arrays H₀ and H₁. Each pixel in the arrays X₁(802) and X₃ (804) are generated by applying an inverse wavelettransform to a combination of pixels in adjacent decoded pixel arrays(e.g., pixel array X₀, X₂, or X₄) and a corresponding high-passcoefficient.

For example, a pixel, x₁, in array X₁ (802) is generated from acombination of pixels in array X₀, a combination of pixels in X₂, andhigh-pass coefficient h₀ in array H₀. A wavelet transform that describespixel x₁ is given in equation (5) below:

x ₁ =a×{circumflex over (x)} ₀ +h ₀ +a×{circumflex over (x)} ₂   (5)

In equation (5), the value {circumflex over (x)}₀ is equal to functionf₀(X₀), which is a function of one or more pixels in array X₀. The value{circumflex over (x)}₂ is equal to function f₂(X₂), which is a functionof one or more pixels in array X₂. The pixel array X₃ (804) can begenerated in a similar fashion. Using the decoding scheme shown in FIG.8, the odd frames of the video can be generated.

Exemplary Barbell Functions

Barbell function can be any arbitrary functions. However, some barbellfunctions are more efficient for temporal decomposition. When choosing abarbell function, the high-pass coefficients are preferably close tozero for efficient energy packing. The low-pass coefficients arepreferably free from ghosting artifacts for temporal scalability andsubsequent spatial decomposition. The barbell function preferablyfollows the motion trajectory for efficient decomposition and efficientcoding of the barbell functions. The barbell functions are preferablyconsistent in the prediction and update stages. Preferably thedecomposition efficiency and the side information are balanced. Lastly,a barbell function is preferably able to distribute quantization errorsamong many coefficients, instead of accumulating the errors to only afew coefficients. The foregoing guidelines are only suggestions and arenot required in designing barbell functions.

According to the above principles, many motion prediction techniques canbe used to form efficient barbell functions. FIG. 9 illustrates someexample scenarios in which barbell functions can be effectively usedwith motion vectors in the prediction stage. An integer motion alignmentscenario is shown in FIG. 9( a). An exemplary barbell functionassociated with the integer motion alignment scenario is given asfollows:

f+F _(i)(x+Δx, y+Δy)   (6)

In equation (6), (Δx,Δy) represents the motion vector of a current pixel(x,y). The symbol F_(i) denotes the previous frame and symbol F_(j)denotes the current frame.

A fractional-pixel motion alignment scenario is shown in FIG. 9( b). Anexemplary barbell function for the fractional-pixel motion alignmentscenario is shown in equation (7):

$\begin{matrix}{f = {\sum\limits_{m}{\sum\limits_{n}{{\alpha \left( {m,n} \right)}{F_{i}\left( {{x + \left\lfloor {\Delta \; x} \right\rfloor + m},{y + \left\lfloor {\Delta \; y} \right\rfloor + n}} \right)}}}}} & (7)\end{matrix}$

In equation (7), the symbol └ ┘ denotes the integer part of Δx and Δy.The barbell function specified in equation (7) yields a fractional pixelvalue calculated from neighboring pixels at integer pixel positionsusing an interpolation filter. The value α(m,n) is a factor of theinterpolation filter at each pixel identified by indices m and n.

A multiple-to-one pixel mapping scenario is shown as in FIG. 9( c). Anexemplary barbell function associated with the multiple-to-one pixelmapping scenario is shown in equation (8):

$\begin{matrix}{f = {\sum\limits_{m}{\sum\limits_{n}{{\alpha \left( {m,n} \right)}{F_{i}\left( {{x + \; {\Delta \; x_{m}}},{y + {\Delta \; y_{n}}}} \right)}}}}} & (8)\end{matrix}$

In equation (8), the value α(m,n) is a weighting factor for each of themultiple pixels (x_(m),y_(n)) in a previous frame F_(i) that are mappedto a single pixel (x,y) in the current frame F_(j).

The barbell lifting scheme can improve motion prediction. FIG. 9( d)shows a scenario in which a barbell function uses motion vectorsassociated with pixels around a pixel, (x,y), in a current frame, F_(j),to obtain multiple predictions from the previous frame, F_(i), andgenerate a new prediction. Not only is motion vector (Δx₀,Δy₀) used, butalso motion vectors of neighboring pixels or blocks. An exemplarybarbell function is shown in equation (9):

$\begin{matrix}{f = {\sum\limits_{{m = 0},{\pm 1}}{\sum\limits_{{n = 0},{\pm 1}}{{\alpha \left( {m,n} \right)}{F_{i}\left( {{x\; + {\Delta \; x_{m}}},{y + {\Delta \; y_{n}}}} \right)}}}}} & (9)\end{matrix}$

In equation (9), the values m and n take on all possible combinations of0, 1, and −1. The value α(m,n) is a weighting factor. Although equation(9) describes a scenario involving eight neighboring pixels, the barbellfunction is not limited to eight neighboring pixels. Indeed, the barbellfunction specified in equation (9) can be extended to more generalcases, such as less or more than eight neighboring pixels.

In addition, the barbell lifting scheme can be applied with adaptiveblock size motion alignment as shown in FIG. 10. In this implementation,the same barbell function is applied to a block of pixels, which canreduce overhead associated with the barbell functions. The block sizescan be adapted to different regions in a video frame. FIG. 10illustrates pixels in a current frame F_(j) as they relate to pixels ina previous frame F_(i). As shown, pixels can be grouped into blocks ofvarious sizes, such as, but not limited to, a block size of two (1000),four (1002), or eight (1004) pixels. In one implementation of a temporalwavelet coder, the barbell lifting function is applied over a largeblock size in the flat regions of video and applied over small blocksize in complex regions.

Referring again to FIG. 9, as depicted in FIGS. 9( b) and (c), whenpixels in different frames are aligned with motion vectors atfractional-pixel precision or with multiple-to-one pixel mapping, theprediction and update stages may have mismatch. Preferably, the updateand prediction stages use the same motion vector(s) in order to saveoverhead bits to code motion vectors. The motion vector of the updatestage is the inverse of the motion vector at the prediction stage, i.e.,the same value but reverse direction.

FIG. 11 depicts an exemplary mismatch scenario. For example, the motionvector (Δx_(m),Δy_(n)) 1100 of pixel F_(j)(x_(m),y_(n)) 1102 points to afractional location in frame F_(i). Assuming linear interpolation isapplied, it means that the prediction of pixel F_(j)(x_(m),y_(n)) 1102is the weighted average of pixel 1104 and pixel 1106. In the updatestage, the motion vector of pixel 1104 has the same value and inversedirection of (Δx_(m),Δy_(n)) as shown by the arrow with dashed line inFIG. 11. Therefore, pixel 1104 is updated with the predicted results ofF_(j)(x_(m),n_(y)) and F_(j)(x_(m+1),y_(n+1)). The mismatch is that theprediction has the path from pixel 1106 to F_(j)(x_(m),y_(n)) but theupdate has the path from F_(j)(x_(m+1),y_(n+1)) to pixel 1104

The barbell lifting process can solve this problem. In the update stagethe high-pass coefficients are distributed to those pixels that are usedto calculate the high-pass coefficients in the prediction stage.Combining equations (2) and (8), the high-pass coefficient is obtainedas follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{h_{j}\left( {x,y} \right)} = {{F_{j}\left( {x,y} \right)} + {\sum\limits_{i}{\sum\limits_{m}{\sum\limits_{n}{a_{i}{\alpha_{i,j}\left( {x,y,m,n} \right)}{F_{i}\left( {{x + {\Delta \; x_{m}}},{y + {\Delta \; y_{n}}}} \right)}}}}}}} & (10)\end{matrix}$

The value α_(i,j)(x,y,m,n) is the barbell parameter specified by thecoordination x, y, m, n. The low-pass coefficient is calculated asfollows:

$\begin{matrix}{{l_{i}\left( {x,y} \right)} = {{F_{i}\left( {x,y} \right)} + {\sum\limits_{j}{\sum\limits_{m}{\sum\limits_{n}{b_{j}{\alpha_{i,j}\left( {x,y,m,n} \right)}{h_{j}\left( {{x + {\Delta \; x_{m}}},{y + {\Delta \; y_{n}}}} \right)}}}}}}} & (11)\end{matrix}$

This means that the high-pass coefficient will be added exactly to thepixels they predict. For the above example, the predicted weight frompixel 1106 to F_(j)(x_(m),n_(y)) is non-zero. Therefore, the updateweight from F_(j)(x_(m),y_(n)) to pixel 1106, which equals the predictweight, is also non-zero. This process eliminates mismatch between theprediction stage and the update stage. The barbell lifting processcorresponding to the equations (10) and (11) is depicted in FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 illustrates a sequence of 1-D pixel arrays 1200 that are barbelllifted to high-pass coefficient arrays 1202 and low-pass coefficientarrays 1204. Using equation (10) to obtain the high-pass coefficientsand equation (11) to obtain the low-pass coefficients, the predictionand update stages are consistent. The new update stage avoids the needto derive inverse motion vectors. Therefore, the proposed techniquepreserves the operations, while avoiding ambiguity in the update stage.

Exemplary Operations

Described herein are exemplary methods for barbell lifting for videocoding. The methods described herein may be embodied as logicinstructions on one or more computer-readable medium. When executed on aprocessor, the logic instructions cause a general purpose computingdevice to be programmed as a special-purpose machine that implements thedescribed methods. In the following exemplary operations, the componentsand connections depicted in the figures may be used to implement liftingfor video coding.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary enhanced wavelet lifting algorithm 1300for coding video data using barbell lifting. A video coder, such as thevideo coder shown in FIG. 2, can execute the operations shown in thealgorithm 1300. It is assumed that a sequence of video frames is inputto the video coder.

An estimating operation 1302 estimates barbell lifting parameters. Inone implementation, when the barbell lifting function is used for motionalignment, the estimating operation 1302 estimates the motion data(e.g., motion vectors, coding modes and interpolation). In thisimplementation, the motion data are estimated in either of frame, groupof macroblocks, macroblock and block.

In another implementation of the estimating operation 1302, when thebarbell lifting function is used for spatial prediction, the predictiondata (prediction directions, coding modes and interpolation) areestimated. In this implementation, the prediction data are estimated ineither of frame, group of macroblocks, macroblock and block.

The estimated parameters generated by the estimating operation 1302 areused in the barbell lifting functions of the barbell lifting process todecompose the input video signal into low-pass and high-passcoefficients. The barbell lifting process includes two stages: aprediction stage, and an update stage. The prediction stage is embodiedin a first generating operation 1304, and the update stage is embodiedin another generating operation 1306.

The first generating operation 1304 generates high-pass waveletcoefficients based on a function of pixels in the previous adjacentframe and a function of pixels in a subsequent adjacent frame. High-passcoefficients are generated for every other frame in a frame sequence.Typically, high-pass coefficients are generated for the odd frames inthe sequence. The functions of the pixels in adjacent frames may belinear, or non-linear. Exemplary functions are shown and describedabove. A discrete wavelet transform is applied iteratively for eachpixel in the frame, including the barbell functions, to generate thehigh-pass frame.

The second generating operation 1306 generates low-pass waveletcoefficients based on a function of high-pass coefficients in one ormore adjacent frames. The low-pass coefficients are generated for theframes for which high-pass coefficients were not generated. Typically,low-pass coefficients are generated for the even frames in the sequence.The function of high-pass coefficients may be linear or non-linear.Exemplary barbell functions are shown and described above. A discretewavelet transform is performed over the functions of high-passcoefficients and each pixel in the frame to generate a frame of low-passcoefficients.

The estimated parameters and the decomposed coefficients are input to anentropy coding operation 1308. The entropy coding operation 1308 appliesan entropy coding algorithm, such as Fibonacci coding, Golomb coding,Rice coding, Huffman coding, or Range coding. The algorithm performed bythe entropy coding operation 1308 compresses the data even more, byassigning the most common data symbols to the shortest codes.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary decoding algorithm 1400 for decodingcoded video data that is coded using barbell lifting. Typically, thedecoding algorithm 1400 is performed by a decoder executing as part of avideo receiver. It is assumed that the input to the decoding algorithm1400 is a signal containing frames that have been encoded using barbelllifting as described above.

An entropy decoding operation 1402 entropy decodes the received barbelllifting coded frames. The entropy decoding operation 1402 performssubstantially the inverse of operation 1308 (FIG. 3). The output of theentropy decoding operation 1402 is a sequence of alternating low-passand high-pass frames.

A generating operation 1404 generates even frames of video data usinginverse barbell lifting. Each pixel in the even frames is generated byperforming an inverse wavelet transform on a combination of high-passcoefficients in one or more adjacent frames and a corresponding low-passcoefficient. A barbell function that was used in the coding process isapplied to the high-pass coefficients and input to the inverse wavelettransform. The even frames of video data are generated by performing thegenerating operation 1404 for all pixels in the even frames.

Another generating operation 1406 then generates the remaining frames ofvideo data using inverse barbell lifting. Each pixel in an odd frame isgenerated by performing an inverse wavelet transform on a combination ofpixels in adjacent video frames and a corresponding high-passcoefficient. A barbell function that was used in the coding process isapplied to the pixels in the adjacent video frame and input to theinverse wavelet transform. The odd frames of video data are generated byperforming the generating operation 1406 for all pixels in the oddframes.

A reconstructing operation 1408 reconstructs the original video usingthe even and odd decoded video frames. The reconstructing operation 1408puts the decoded video frames in order and prepares them for storage orpresentation.

Exemplary Computing Device

With reference to FIG. 15, an exemplary system for implementing theoperations described herein includes a general-purpose computing devicein the form of a conventional personal computer 20, including aprocessing unit 21, a system memory 22, and a system bus 23. System bus23 links together various system components including system memory 22and processing unit 21. System bus 23 may be any of several types of busstructures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. Systemmemory 22 includes read only memory (ROM) 24 and random access memory(RAM) 25. A basic input/output system 26 (BIOS), containing the basicroutine that helps to transfer information between elements within thepersonal computer 20, such as during start-up, is stored in ROM 24.

As depicted, in this example personal computer 20 further includes ahard disk drive 27 for reading from and writing to a hard disk (notshown), a magnetic disk drive 28 for reading from or writing to aremovable magnetic disk 29, and an optical disk drive 30 for readingfrom or writing to a removable optical disk 31 such as a CD ROM, DVD, orother like optical media. Hard disk drive 27, magnetic disk drive 28,and optical disk drive 30 are connected to the system bus 23 by a harddisk drive interface 32, a magnetic disk drive interface 33, and anoptical drive interface 34, respectively. These exemplary drives andtheir associated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage ofcomputer readable instructions, data structures, computer programs andother data for the personal computer 20.

Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a hard disk,a removable magnetic disk 29 and a removable optical disk 31, it shouldbe appreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of computerreadable media which can store data that is accessible by a computer,such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks,random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROMs), and the like,may also be used in the exemplary operating environment.

A number of computer programs may be stored on the hard disk, magneticdisk 29, optical disk 31, ROM 24 or RAM 25, including an operatingsystem 35, one or more application programs 36, other programs 37, andprogram data 38. A user may enter commands and information into thepersonal computer 20 through input devices such as a keyboard 40 andpointing device 42 (such as a mouse).

Of particular significance to the present invention, a camera 55 (suchas a digital/electronic still or video camera, or film/photographicscanner) capable of capturing a sequence of images 56 can also beincluded as an input device to the personal computer 20. The images 56are input into the computer 20 via an appropriate camera interface 57.In this example, interface 57 is connected to the system bus 23, therebyallowing the images to be routed to and stored in the RAM 25, or one ofthe other data storage devices associated with the computer 20. It isnoted, however, that image data can be input into the computer 20 fromany of the aforementioned computer-readable media as well, withoutrequiring the use of the camera 55.

Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, gamepad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devicesare often connected to the processing unit 21 through a serial portinterface 46 that is coupled to the system bus, but may be connected byother interfaces, such as a parallel port, game port, a universal serialbus (USB), etc.

A monitor 47 or other type of display device is also connected to thesystem bus 23 via an interface, such as a video adapter 48. In additionto the monitor, personal computers typically include other peripheraloutput devices (not shown), such as speakers and printers.

Personal computer 20 may operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remotecomputer 49. Remote computer 49 may be another personal computer, aserver, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common networknode, and typically includes many or all of the elements described aboverelative to the personal computer 20.

The logical connections depicted in FIG. 15 include a local area network(LAN) 51 and a wide area network (WAN) 52. Such networking environmentsare commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, Intranetsand the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, personal computer 20 isconnected to local network 51 through a network interface or adapter 53.When used in a WAN networking environment, the personal computer 20typically includes a modem 54 or other means for establishingcommunications over the wide area network 52, such as the Internet.Modem 54, which may be internal or external, is connected to system bus23 via the serial port interface 46.

In a networked environment, computer programs depicted relative topersonal computer 20, or portions thereof, may be stored in a remotememory storage device. It will be appreciated that the networkconnections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing acommunications link between the computers may be used.

Various modules and techniques may be described herein in the generalcontext of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules,executed by one or more computers or other devices. Generally, programmodules include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the program modulesmay be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

An implementation of these modules and techniques may be stored on ortransmitted across some form of computer-readable media.Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readablemedia may comprise “computer storage media” and “communications media.”

“Computer storage media” includes volatile and non-volatile, removableand non-removable media implemented in any method or technology forstorage of information such as computer-readable instructions, datastructures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage mediaincludes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or othermemory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or otheroptical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which canbe used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by acomputer.

“Communication media” typically embodies computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated datasignal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communicationmedia also includes any information delivery media. The term “modulateddata signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristicsset or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal.By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includeswired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, andwireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media.Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer-readable media.

Although the exemplary operating embodiment is described in terms ofoperational flows in a conventional computer, one skilled in the artwill realize that the present invention can be embodied in any platformor environment that processes and/or communicates video signals.Examples include both programmable and non-programmable devices such ashardware having a dedicated purpose such as video conferencing,firmware, semiconductor devices, hand-held computers, palm-sizedcomputers, cellular telephones, and the like.

Although some exemplary methods and systems have been illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it will be understood that the methods and systems shownand described are not limited to the particular implementation describedherein, but rather are capable of numerous rearrangements, modificationsand substitutions without departing from the spirit set forth herein.

1. A method comprising: receiving barbell coded video data including atleast one even-numbered frame of low-pass coefficients and at least oneodd-numbered frame of high-pass coefficients; generating aneven-numbered frame of decoded video data using inverse barbell lifting;generating an odd-numbered frame of video data using inverse barbelllifting.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the generating aneven-numbered frame of decoded video data comprises performing aninverse wavelet transform on a low-pass coefficient in the even-numberedframe and a combination of one or more high-pass coefficients in anadjacent frame.
 3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the generatingan odd-numbered frame of video data comprises performing an inversewavelet transform on a high-pass coefficient in the odd-numbered frameand a combination of one or more decoded pixels in an adjacent videoframe.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the generating aneven-numbered frame of decoded video data comprises applying a functionof the form:x ₀ =l ₀+(−2b)×ĥ ₀, wherein x₀ represents a decoded pixel in theeven-numbered frame, l₀ represents a low-pass coefficient in theeven-numbered frame, ĥ₀ represents a high-pass coefficient in anadjacent frame, and b represents a filtering parameter.
 5. A method asrecited in claim 1 further comprising entropy decoding the barbell codedvideo data.
 6. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprisingreconstructing decoded video data from the even-numbered frame ofdecoded video data and the odd-numbered frame of video data.
 7. A methodas recited in claim 1 wherein the generating an even-numbered frame ofdecoded video includes adaptively applying an inverse barbell functionto pixel blocks of different sizes within the even-numbered frame.